Somehow, 2024 Became the Year of Gambit
Super Hero Worship is a regular opinion column by IGN’s Senior Staff Writer Jesse Schedeen. Check out the previous Super Hero Worship entry, Joker 2 Should Be a Big Deal for DC, So Why Does It Seem Like Nobody Cares?
Every superhero fan has their favorite X-Man. And because there are so many options, there’s a nice bit of variety in which characters fans gravitate towards the most. Obviously, Wolverine hogs more than his fair share of the fandom, and Magneto is the objectively correct answer, but there are plenty of people who opt for more obscure mutant characters like Synch, Monet, or Forget-Me-Not. But there’s one character whose appeal I’ve never quite understood – Gambit.
That is, until 2024 rolled along. From animation to live-action to the comics themselves, this truly has become the year of Gambit. The Ragin’ Cajun’s stock has never been hotter, and even I can’t deny he’s one of the coolest characters in a truly massive stable. Let’s take a closer look at why everything seems to be coming up Gambit in 2024.
Gambit in X-Men ‘97
Gambit’s breakout year started early with the debut of the X-Men ‘97 animated series. And it’s funny, because the original X-Men: The Animated Series is a large part of the reason I’ve always felt apathetic toward Gambit as a character. Gambit never had a clearly defined role in that series. He always seemed second fiddle to Wolverine – the X-Men’s other resident bad boy with a mysterious past and a romantic obsession with a fellow teammate. And perhaps because of that, it never felt like the original series developed Gambit as much as it could have.
This is one area where X-Men ‘97 clearly sought to make up for lost time. From that iconic moment in the first episode where Gambit charges up Wolverine’s claws, it was clear that the writers and animators knew how to handle having two mutant badasses on the same team. These two characters can complement one another rather than having one overshadow the other.
But at the same time, X-Men ‘97 also worked to give Gambit the attention he was denied in the original series. I’ve written before how one of the series’ greatest strengths was in the decision to backburner Wolverine in favor of fleshing out the rest of the team, and that really seemed to work in Gambit’s favor. Season 1 gets a lot of mileage out of Gambit as not just the team’s suave, carefree member, but also in his possibly doomed romance with Rogue. The Gambit/Rogue/Magneto triangle supplanted the classic Wolverine/Jean Grey/Cyclops dynamic. Seeing Gambit continue his uphill battle to woo Rogue, all the while knowing they can never truly touch, gives both characters a welcome aura of tragedy.
That leads to what is undoubtedly Season 1’s finest hour in “Remember It.” No sooner does Rogue reject Magneto’s advances and finally choose Gambit than the island of Genosha is attacked by a gigantic Master Mold Sentinel. Here Gambit is able to prove himself on the biggest stage possible, making a brave one-man stand against the Master Mold and heroically sacrificing his life to save his people. As far as death scenes go, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Among many other things, X-Men ‘97: Season 1 succeeds in drawing a hard line between Wolverine and Gambit and allowing the latter to fully stand on his own two feet. And the best part is that the series isn’t done. The season ends with a post-credits tease hinting that Apocalypse will soon be resurrecting Gambit as his newest Horseman of Death. That’s an exciting prospect, even if it appears we’ll have to wait until 2026 for the series to make its return.
Channing Tatum’s Gambit
Gambit is not a character who was particularly well-served by Fox’s X-Men movie universe. Though, the same could be said for pretty much every X-Man who isn’t Wolverine, Magneto, or Mystique. In all the Fox movies, we only got one Gambit appearance in the critically reviled X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Still, Taylor Kitsch’s Gambit is certainly the least of that prequel’s problems. In another, better film, it’s easy to see Kitsch thriving in the role. Sadly, it was never to be.
But leave it to Deadpool & Wolverine to finally bring justice to Gambit on the big screen, and to do it with the actor who was denied his chance to star in a Gambit solo movie. Amid all the countless Marvel movie cameos in that film, Channing Tatum’s Gambit is easily the highlight. Tatum consistently steals the show when he shows up in The Void. If Kitsch’s Gambit was toned down to fit the more grounded tone and setting of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Tatum’s Gambit fully embraces the comic book source material.
Tatum plays Gambit in totally deadpan form, embracing all the inherent ridiculousness of the character. A thief wearing flamboyant pink armor and metal boots? Check. A superhero who speaks in a nigh-indecipherable Cajun accent? Yep. Tatum’s Gambit is the only hero in the movie more foul-mouthed and full of himself than Deadpool, and the results are hilarious. How Wesley Snipes’ Blade, Jennifer Garner’s Elektra, and Dafne Keen’s X-23 put up with his presence for as long as they did is a complete mystery.
The MCU certainly has the opportunity to do more with Tatum’s take on the character, particularly with a deleted scene establishing that Gambit survived the final battle. Could Tatum actually carry a Gambit movie on his shoulders, like he was meant to in the Fox days? It’s hard to say. There’s definitely a sense that a little goes a long way with this interpretation of the character, and it might be asking a bit much to expect viewers to embrace such a silly character in a solo spinoff. But as a supporting character in an ensemble X-Men piece, Tatum’s Gambit is great. He’s proven that you can do justice to the character by celebrating, rather than downplaying, his more over-the-top- qualities.
Gambit in the Uncanny X-Men Comic
The X-Men comics have experienced their own renaissance in recent years, with 2019’s House of X and Powers of X completely reshaping the franchise and the mutant status quo in the Marvel Universe. That ambitious storyline sadly came to an end earlier this year, and in many ways it’s been hard to accept the return to a more traditional status quo.
That being said, some X-Men have really benefitted from Marvel’s current “From the Ashes” direction. The Krakoan Age was a hugely ambitious undertaking, and it goes without saying that not every one of the massive ensemble cast of mutants was truly able to shine during those five years. Gambit is one character who often felt trapped on the backburner during the Krakoan era, but that’s changed in a big way with From the Ashes.
These days, Gambit is one of the main protagonists of Gail Simone and David Marquez’s Uncanny X-Men. Simone has always shown a knack for working with misfit heroes and villains (her Secret Six run is still one of my favorite DC projects of all time), and Gambit plays directly to her strengths as a writer.
One need look no further than Uncanny X-Men #1 to see why Gambit has become one of the highlights of this new era of X-Men comics. In that issue, he, Rogue, and Wolverine are tasked with fighting a dragon sleeping atop a temple in Teotihuacan. When Wolverine’s unbreakable claws and Rogue’s super-strength prove no match for this massive foe, Gambit takes it upon himself to save the day. Not by overpowering the dragon, but by stealing its eye and forcing the beast to strike a bargain. Ever the thief…
Gambit has historically been a tough nut for X-Men writers to crack. Like with the animated series, there’s often a problem where he feels secondary to Wolverine as the team’s resident badass, and there’s rarely been a consistent sense of purpose and direction for Gambit over the years.
But thanks to Simone and Marquez, Gambit is really coming into his own as one of the big power players of the From the Ashes era. In a time when so many X-Men are mourning the loss of Krakoa and the hope it provided, Gambit is a much-needed source of confidence, strength, and optimism. The emphasis on his loving relationship with Rogue has also been a boon for the character. Simone essentially writes him as the X-Men’s designated Wife Guy, and it really works.
Uncanny X-Men truly completes Gambit’s superhero hat trick in 2024. The comic, the animated series, and the live-action movie all present fairly different takes on Gambit, but they all succeed in capturing this iconic X-Man at his best. Thanks to these past 12 months, I can safely say I appreciate Gambit as a character more than I ever have as a Marvel fan. And who knows? Maybe he’ll get that solo movie yet.
What do you think of Gambit’s big year? What’s your favorite incarnation of Gambit? Cast your vote in our poll above and sound off in the comments.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
The Concord Studio Gets Shut Down And More Top Gaming Stories
This week, people desperate for Nintendo to finally pull back the curtain on the successor to the Switch instead got an announcement that the acclaimed role-playing game Xenoblade Chronicles X, previously only available on Wii U, will make its way to the handheld hybrid next year. Also, Guy “Dr Disrespect” Beahm was denied by YouTube in his efforts to have his channel’s monetization reinstated, and Sony shuttered Firewalk Studios, the team behind sci-fi shooter Concord. These stories and more await in the pages ahead.
How To Unlock Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s Secret Post-Credits Scene
Explaining the post-credits scene in Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Now that you have all three Mysterious Circles, you should be guaranteed to unlock the Dragon Age: The Veilguard post-credits scene. Of course, you still need to complete the finale section. This can take you a couple of hours or so, maybe more if you want to be a completionist to ensure that “most” characters survive.
In any case, after the credits stop rolling, a cutscene will trigger showing different images–some reference events from Veilguard, while others talk about what had transpired from previous games. The scene ends when a black inverted pyramid with jagged lines forms, and the voice says, “We come…”
So, what does all this mean? Well, the pyramids are definitely not related to Savathun or the Witness from Destiny 2. Rather, the images might be a warning about the Executors, a shadowy group that operates “across the sea.” The organization has had a keen interest regarding events that happen in Thedas, so they might be planning something big. Also, we know very little of the world outside the continent of Thedas, so perhaps this looming threat awaits us in the next game.
That does it for our guide on how to get the post-credits scene in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Since this takes place once you’re finished with the campaign, perhaps you’d like to keep most of your characters and allies alive, too. We’ve got a finale and endings guide to help you out.
The lands of Thedas are under threat from formidable foes, including some menacing elven gods, and it’s up to Rook and their allies to save the day. For more tips and tactics, you can visit our Dragon Age: The Veilguard guides hub.
How To Complete Treasure Of Sharksmouth Mountain In Dragon Age: The Veilguard
The Treasure of Sharksmouth Mountain riddle
To solve the Treasure of Sharksmouth Mountain puzzle in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you have to take note of the clues in the riddle. The message can be read via the inscription on the tower’s door or the shield inside the fortress.
Four knights rode to battle.
One fired unto the rightward flank, her arrows a steel rain.
One lingered, their shield behind to guard all’s back.
One went boldly to the fore, her sword thrust forward unto the foe.
One crept upon the leftward flank, his hammer a harvest reaped.
While we can certain provide the solution immediately, let’s first take a look at the mechanics of the puzzle itself. Basically, the passage refers to the knights and the cardinal directions that their statues should be facing. But we don’t know the names of these knights yet, so we have to find more clues.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard – How To Save Solas
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Mischievous trickster, misunderstood hero, or malicious murderer? Solas, the Dread Wolf, will certainly be a thorn on your side in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. However, as the old saying goes: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” That means you’re still going to need his assistance. Perhaps you can also help him find salvation at the very end. Here’s our guide on how to redeem or save Solas in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Likewise, please be reminded that this article contains major spoilers.
How to redeem or save Solas in Dragon Age: The Veilguard
If you want to save Solas in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and we use the term “save” loosely, be prepared to make some key decisions throughout the campaign and even before you start it. Essentially, Solas finding redemption becomes the game’s true/best ending.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Solas wants to tear open the Veil to bring forth a new age. Once you reach the last portion of the game, you’re presented with two choices: Fight him or trick him. A third option will appear if you meet certain requirements.
- The Inquisitor and Solas must have been romantically involved in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
- The Inquisitor has to admit her feelings for him.
- You must have Mythal’s Essence from the Crossroads.
Please note that there are still other factors to consider as you arrive at the campaign’s conclusion, such as keeping your companions and allied NPCs alive. You can learn more about these in our finale and endings guide.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Endings And Finale Guide
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Your journey in Dragon Age: The Veilguard will eventually come to a climactic conclusion. However, along the way, you’ll have to make tough choices. Not everyone is guaranteed to make it out alive, so we’ve got a few tips to help you prepare. Here’s our guide that discusses the finale and endings in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Since we’re talking about the last portion of the game, there will be major spoilers ahead.
Finale and endings in Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Our Dragon Age: The Veilguard endings guide is organized sequentially. Bear in mind that the game’s “point of no return” is a quest called When Plans Align. Past that point, the only things you can do are tasks related to the finale.
During the finale sequence, it’s possible for several companions and faction NPCs to die. As such, it’s imperative that you consider a few important factors:
- Complete all companion personal quests so they reach Hero of the Veilguard status.
- Increase faction strength to max level or three stars (i.e. 3,000 points or higher).
- When choosing to help Minrathous or Treviso, you must pick Minrathous.
- When presented with a choice during the last few missions, pick the companions that are best suited for each task.
Aside from these, there are also a few optional tasks that lead to more ideal outcomes:
Fortnite New Weapons In Remix Chapter 2
Fortnite new weapons and items in Chapter 2 Remix
There are no returning weapons from Season 4 at all in Fortnite Chapter 2 Remix–all these newer guns are being swapped out for Chapter 2 weapons. Some of these still function as they did before, but a few have been updated with some surprising improvements. For example: Boogie Bombs will now force enemy players to dance to Snoop Dogg’s Drop It Like It’s Hot, and Eminem’s mythic mini-gun will rap Eminem lyrics when you fire it. Those changes are mostly cosmetic, though.
The loot pool will change every week during Remix season, with some items staying for the whole month and others only for a week. While we don’t know the breakdown for what’s going to be in play when, we do know everything that will be added.
New and unvaulted weapons:
- Dual Pistols
- Tactical Shotgun
- Pump Shotgun
- Rapid Fire SMG
- Suppressed SMG
- Suppressed Assault Rifle
- Heavy Sniper Rifle
- Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle
- Hunting Rifle
- Rocket Launcher
- Grenade Launcher
- Remote Explosives
- Grenades
- Clingers
- Stink Bomb
- Mythic Goldfish
- Bandage Bazooka
If any of these don’t sound familiar, you can scroll on for a look at each of these returning weapons.
Everything New In Fortnite Remix Chapter 2
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Last year, Fortnite OG took us back to Chapter 1, and we all had such a great time that Epic Games decided to try something similar, but not quite the same, with Fortnite Chapter 2 Remix. This new throwback season is taking up to the early parts of Chapter 2, when we first met folks like Midas and Meowscles, but this trip latest trip to the past is a little busier than OG was thanks to a large pile of music collaborations–with Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Ice Spice and Juice WRLD all receiving skins, as well as battle royale locations and weapons based on them.
So even though Fortnite Chapter 2 Remix is only going to last for 30 days, the 32.00 update is adding quite a lot of new stuff to the game–more than your typical season launch, certainly. With this guide we’ll show you around everything this new season has to offer, from new weapons, to the new map and battle pass, and all the collabs in store in Fortnite Chapter 2 Remix.
Fortnite Servers Are Down: When Will Fortnite Servers Be Back Up For Remix Chapter 2?
The Fortnite servers are down, but don’t worry. It’s all part of the plan. Fortnite servers will be back up soon; here’s what you need to know.
With Fortnite’s latest all-Marvel season coming to an end, it’s time to look ahead to what’s next, and it’s poised to be another nostalgic trip down memory lane for longtime fans. Fortnite Remix Chapter 2 is imminent. Like Fortnite OG last November, this is poised to be a return (and remix, of course) of the original Chapter 2 island, complete with skins, weapons, loot, and more all fitting of that era of Epic’s massive game.
Fortnite servers down – When does Fortnite Remix Chapter 2 start?
When Fortnite’s servers come back up, it’ll usher in this year’s massive Remix season, though Epic has already revealed it will unfold for just one month before another Chapter finale event ushers in another new island in December.
The Chapter 2 map coming back will be, for some players, a bigger deal than the OG map last year, but all we can do now is wait until Epic brings Fortnite back online. But when will that be? Unfortunately, it’s not a question with an easy answer, because there’s no scheduled time for this maintenance window to end. Typically, you can expect to see a new Fortnite season to kick off between 7 AM and 10 AM ET on launch day–in this case, November 2–though there have been major exceptions.
Earlier this year, for example, there was some sort of technical issue that kept the game offline until late in the evening, with Fortnite staying offline for nearly a day. But that was a very unusual situation and shouldn’t be expected to be repeated often.
Once the game does return, Remix Chapter 2 will introduce a whole host of changes such as a new (well, returning) map inspired by Chapter 2, vehicles fitting of that era–or perhaps no vehicles at all at first, since cars weren’t added until Chapter 2 Season 3–as well as a new Remix Chapter 2 Pass that is likely to celebrate some of that era’s favorite characters with mash-ups, such as Meowscles and Midas being combined into one character.
Once the servers do come back up, we’ll give you a massive roundup of everything new in Fortnite Fortnite Remix Chapter 2 right here.
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Venom: The Last Dance 4K Steelbook Preorders Discounted – Get All 3 Venom Steelbooks At Amazon
Venom: The Last Dance has just hit theaters, and like clockwork, preorders for its upcoming Blu-ray release have gone live at several retailers. There are a few Venom 3 physical editions to pick from, including a Limited Edition Steelbook on 4K Blu-ray to keep the symbiote contained. This means that you can now be the proud owner of steelbook editions of all three Venom movies, as reprints of these editions of Venom and Venom: Let There Be Carnage are still available for cheap:
Venom Series 4K Limited Edition Steelbooks
The Venom movies may not be very good, but the steelbook cases look cool, and The Last Dance has the best design of the bunch. There’s no official release date yet, but modern big-budget movies typically hit Blu-ray around two to three months after they’re released in cinemas.
$48.49 (was $66) | Release Date: TBA
Amazon listed Venom: The Last Dance’s 4K Steelbook Edition for $66 at first, but as with many other Blu-ray preorders, the price has since dropped substantially to $48.49.
There’s no guarantee it will remain at this price–it could go back up or drop even lower–but preordering from Amazon secures a price guarantee. As usual, you won’t pay until your preorder ships from Amazon’s warehouse, and you will only be charged the lowest price offered since completing your order.
As an added bonus, you’ll also get a copy of the movie on a standard Blu-ray disc and a digital streaming code for it.
$35-$50
Venom: The Last Dance will also release on 4K Blu-ray without a steelbook. You can preorder the standard 4K Blu-ray edition for $37.49 (was $50), the 1080p Blu-ray for $32 (was $41), or the DVD edition for $27 (was $35).
Special features haven’t been finalized yet, but if it’s anything like its predecessors, Venom 3 will probably have an assortment of behind-the-scenes documentaries, deleted scenes, and promotional materials to check out once you’re done watching the main event.
The threequel once again stars Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock and his alien bestie, as the pair find themselves hunted by deadly forces. The movie has a pretty stacked cast, as Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Peggy Lu, Alanna Ubach and Stephen Graham also star in it.
Here’s a look at the Limited Edition Steelbooks for the first two movies. You can put together a pretty cool art gallery of Venom’s weird adventures. It’s worth noting that these are bad movies, but they’re actually so bad that they’re good, in a weird, outrageously magical sort of way. Which is more than we can say for Madame Web or Morbius.
Venom & Venom Let There Be Carnage Limited Edition Steelbooks
